Automatic position indicator



March 29, 1960 E. o. Resl-zus-rsm 2,930,471

AUTOMATIC POSITION INDICATOR Filed D80. 17, 1957 l INVENTOR I EDWIN O.ROGGENSTEIN .ilii ipliiiii no.9. sy/gflg'ggk ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC POSITIONINDICATOR Edwin D. Riiggenstein, Stamford, Conn., assignor to SperryRand Corporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 17, 1957, Serial No. 703,341

. 14 Qlaims. (Cl. 197-190) v This invention relates to indicatotsg-usedin writing machines, to permit relocating a previously typed characterat the printing point.

In typewriters in common use, the paper carriage is stepped aletter-spaced increment for each character or space, as defined by thespacing of the teeth on an escapement wheel operating under control of arocker unit. Should the typist discover an error in a previously typedcharacter it is a simple matter to return the carriage manually or byoperating the backspace mechanism which steps the carriage backwards oneletter space at a time.

aired rates Patent 2 v Figure 1 is a view in'front elevation of part ofan x aligning scale showing mounted thereon a character pospect to atype bar,

In typewriters in which the carriage moves in different letter-spaceincrements, that are proportional to the width of the character thatistyped, the teeth on an escapement gear are cut to define very smallincrements of carriage movement so that if a j is printed the unit ofspacing will be 2 while if an m is printed the unit of spacing will be5. These units of spacing will be pro portional to two or five teeth onthe escapement gear.

If the typist has made an error and wishes to return the carriage to thepoint at which the error was made it would be necessary for her to stopand count up the total number of space increments of all of thecharacters and spaces that have been passed and to this end use has beenmade of a unit-table from which the backspace movements of the carriagecan be added, by the operator, with a resulting loss of time.

It is an object of the invention therefore, to provide means forpositioning a previously typed character under control of the keyboardwithout having to'count the individual increments the carriage. hasadvanced, after a character has been typed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stationary or movableindicating means located in relation to the printing point in such a waythat any character irrespective of its width, or the unit of spaceoccupied thereby, in either upper or lower case position, will be auniform distance away from the indicator with respect to the typeitself.

Other objects of the invention are; to provide means, coacting with thebackspacing mechanism of the machine to relocate a characterautomatically by single key depression or repeat operation of thebackspace mechanism, so that a minimum amount of time will be needed; toprovide an indicator that can be mounted in position for adjustment inthe direction of the line of typing so that it can be accuratelypositioned with respect to the characters to not only locate them forcorrection but to also locate them for shadow or overlap printing; toprovide an indicating means that can be mounted for swing-' ing movementout of the path of the type head, on each printing stroke; and toprovide means for controlling the action of the indicator from theribbon carrier. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certainconstructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out inthe claims, preferred embodiments of the invention being illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which;

sition indicator,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1 showing the relativepositions of the scale, the indicator and the platen, v

Figure 3 is a view of a type head and the upper end of an indicatorshowing diagrammatically, the relation between the two at the printingpoint,

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the ribbon vibrator, thealigning scale and a position indicator mounted on thelatter foroperation by the vibrator, 1'-

Figure 5 is a section on-the line 5-5 of FigureaA showing the relativearrangement of the parts including detent means on the indicator, 7 1

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the. indicator of Figure7 in its operating position with re- Figure 7 is a view similar toFigure 4 showing the ribbon vibrator in raised position and theindicator swung to the side,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the indicator latched ininoperative position when the ribbon vibrator has been disabled as instencil printing, and

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the increment spacing of some typedcharacters and the positions of the indicator with respect thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the aligning'scale ofa typewriter which extends parallel with and adjacent to the platen 11and has a central cutout 12 at the printing zone. wise in supports 13and is provided adjacent its lower edge 14 with a slot 16. The lattersupports an adjusting screw 17 which carries a character positionindicator 18 shaped to provide a vertical aligning edge 19, on anupwardly projecting portion 21 of the body thereof.

A type bar head 22 indicated in outline, shows the relative location ofthe characters thereon with respect to the printing point and theadjusted position of the indicator 18 relatively to the type head andthe characters.

In a proportional spacing typewriter, as disclosed in an application ofcommon assignee, S.N. 566,197 filed February 17, 1956 in the name ofF..W. Schremp, the carriage moves a different numberof space incrementsin accordance with the width of the character typed, such incrementsbeing designated as at 20 in Figure 9, where it will be seen that theletter i has a two increment space, the letters h and e three incrementspaces each, and the letter m a five increment space. If the typist hasdiscovered that the h,is incorrect when she has typed the m it will benecessary for her to backspace the carriage until the indicator isadjacent the left side of the h, as shown in full lines in Fig.9, and'onthe machine in Fig. l.

In order to accurately space movement, it was necessary in the past forthe typist to add up the number of increments from a suitable table andthen manually backspace the carriage. With the indicator 18 it is simplynecessary for the operator to repeat backspace which will automaticallybring the to the leftor right to positionits aligning edge 19 not onlyin "the proper letter space direction but in a true vertical position aswell. can also be adjusted so that shadow or block effect printing canbe accomplished when a line is written over,

The scale 10 is adjustable sideindicate the amount of back- The positionof the indicator after adjustment in accordance with a setting of theindicator.

In Figs. 4 to 8 a form of the invention is shown in which the indicator.23 :is pivoted as at 24 to an aligning scale '26 which is attached forsidewise adjustment as at 27 to supports 28. The indicator 23 is shapedto provide an upwardly extending pointer position 29 having .atruervertical aligning edge 31 and an offset, downwardly directedportion or extension 32 terminating in a forwardly directed finger tab33, extending beneath the shoulder 34 of a ribbon carrier or vibrator36, and notched in its upper edge as at 37 for a purpose to be laterdescribed. The form of the ribbon vibrator is shown and described inU.S. Iatent 2,509,862 granted May 30, 1950 to E. H. Dreher while theoperation of the vibrator is shown and described in U.S. Patent2,638,199 granted May '12, 1953 to F. W. Schremp. in this latter patent,Figure 2 shows :the operation of the ribbon carrier 36 for using the redand black zones of a ribbon as well as the control used in stencil workwhere operation of the ribbon carrier is not desired.

The upper edge of the finger tab 33, of the indicator 23, is yieldablyheld in contact with the underside of the ribbon carrier 36, and in allvibrating movements of the latter, by a spring 38 fixed on one side ofthe scale supports 28. As shown in Figure 4, the indicator 23 isnormally in position to align with the left side of the character andinthis position the type head would strike the indicator in printingaction. The advantage in having the indicator align with the characteris obvious and makes it easier for the operator in backspacing to bringthe carriage to the precise position required. The'ribbon carrier 36raises and lowers with each printing action, as illustrated in thePatent 2,638,199, and the tab end 33 of the indicator, under theinfluence of its spring 38 follows the up and down movement of thecarrier, with the result that the indicator is rocked about its pivot 24to swing the upper portion 29 thereof counterclockwise out of the way ofthe type head during printing impact as shown in Figure 7, until tab 33limits on lower edge of aligning scale 26 and clockwise to restore thealigning edge 31 of the indicator to register with the next characterposition. The position indicator, in combination with the repeatingbackspace operation of the backspace key, makes locating the point oferror an automatic operation. The indicator or locator shows theoperator exactly where the next character will be printed after thecarriage has backspaced to align the indicator with the character to betyped.

'In using the machine for stencil work, the ribbon vibr'atoris silencedor rendered inoperative and is held in its lowered or normal homeposition and during this time the indicator is rendered inoperativethrough manipulation of the finger tab 33. The position of the tab,shown in Fig. 4, is when the ribbon carrier is at its lower position andthe notch 37 is out of alignment with the lower edge of the shoulder 34.The metal or other material from which the indicator is made is flexibleso that when the tab is pushed by the finger of the operator the upperedge of the tab will slide across the lower edge of the carrier 36 untilthe notch 37 aligns with the latter at which time the spring 38 willsnap the indicator into the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the pointerextension 29 thereon will be moved counterclockwise out of the way ofthe type heads used in cutting a stencil. The extension 32 alsounderlies the lower edge of the aligning scale 26 which acts as a limitstop for the tab end when it is urged upwardly by the spring 38. Whenregular typing is resumed and the ribbon carrier 36 is restored tooperating condition, the first movement upward of the carrier willliftthe shoulder thereof out of the notch 37 and the flexible nature ofthe extension. 32 W111 cause the finger tab 33 to-move forwardly andthus be automatically restored to its operating position with respect tothe carrier. I

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirableembodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes in form could bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention and I thereforedo not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor toanything less than the whole of my invention as hereinafter set forth,and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a writing machine including a platen, means for repositioning atthe printing point a previously printed character under control of thekeyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage hasadvanced after characters occupying different numbers of spaceincrements have been typed including a character posi tion indicatorcomprising a portion extending upwardly to a position in front of theplaten and said portion being shaped to provide contiguous to theprinting poin a vertical edge for alignment withone of-the spaceincreients occupied by the printed characterto berelocated.

2. in a writing machine including a platen, means for repositioning atthe printing point a previously printed character under control of thekeyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage hasadvanced after characters occupying different numbers of spaceincrements have been typed including a character position indicatorcomprising a portion extending upwardly to a position in front of theplaten, said portion being shape to provide contiguous to theprinting-point a vertical edge for alignment with one of the spaceincrements occupier by the printed character to be relocated, and meansfor adjusting said indicator toward and away from said space increment.

3. In a writing machine including a platen, an aligning scale extendingacross the front of the platen, means for repositioning at the printingpoint a previously printed character under control of the keyboardwithout counting the individual increments the carriage has advancedafter characters occupying dilterent numbers space increments have beentyped including means for adjusting the scale laterally of the printingpoint, and character position indicator means mounted on said scale andshaped to provide contiguous to the printing point a vertical edge foralignment with one of the space increments occupied by the printedcharacter to be rclocated. a 4. A position indicator adapted to bemounted adjacent the printing point of a writing machine andconstituting aguide for repositioning at said printing point apreviously printed characterunder control of the keyboard withoutcounting the individual increments the carriage has advanced aftercharacters occupying diffcrent numbers of space increments have beentyped including a body portion shaped to provide contiguous to theprinting point an upwardly extending projection having a vertical edgefor alignment with one edge of a printed character and means foradjustably mounting said indicator on a support;

5. A position indicator adapted to be mounted adjacent the printingpoint of a writing machine and constituting a guide for repositioning atsaid printing point a previously printed character under control of thekeyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage hasadvanced after characters occupying differ ent numbers of spaceincrements have been typed including a body portion shaped to providecontiguous to the printing point an upwardly extending projection havinga vertical edge for alignment with one edge of a printed character, andmeans for pivotally mounting said indicator on a support for swingingmovement of said projection toward and away from the printed characterduring'printing action of the writing'machine.

6'. In a writing machine, the combination with means for imparting to aplaten carriage varying amounts of movement in one directioncorresponding to the number of increment spaces occupied by printedcharacters of different widths; of an indicator adapted to be positionedadjacent the left edge of a predetermined character brought to theprinting point when the carriage is backspaced in single incrementamounts of movement.

7. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means and an aligningscale, a character position indicator mounted for pivotal movement onsaid scale and shaped to provide a vertical edge portion providing anindicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, meanson said indicator including a spring urged tab portion for yieldablyengaging said ribbon vibrating means for swinging said aligning portionaway from the printing point during printing action of said machine, andmeans for adjusting the scale to adjust the position of the edge portionof said indicator horizontally.

8. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, and means forrepositioning at the printing point a previously printed character undercontrol of the keyboard without counting the individual increments thecarriage has advanced after characters occupying different numbers ofspace increments have been typed, including a character positionindicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide an aligningvertical edge portion extending upwardly along a character incrementindicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, andmeans for yieldably mounting said indicator in operating engagement withthe ribbon vibrating means for swinging said aligning portion toward andaway from said indicating position during operation of said vibratingmeans.

9. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, a characterposition indicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide analigning portion extending upwardly to an indicating position in frontof the platen at the printing point, means for yieldably maintainingsaid indicator in operating engagement with the ribbon vibrating meansfor swinging said aligning portion away from the printing point duringone movement of said vibrating means, and means on'said indicatorengaging said vibrator for maintaining said aligning portion away fromthe printing point when the vibrator is inoperative.

10. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, a characterposition indicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide analigning portion extending upwardly to an indicating position in frontof the platen at the printing point, and means on said indicatorengaging said ribbon vibrating means for maintaining said aligningportion away from the printing point when the vibrating means isrendered inoperative.

11. In a writing machine including a platen, an aligning scale extendingacross the front of the platen and a ribbon vibrating carrier, characterposition indicator ribbon carrier, and means for adjusting the scalelaterally of the printing point.

12. A position indicator, adapted to .be pivotally mountedadjacent theprinting point of a writing machine including a ribbon vibratingcarrier, said indicator comprising a body portion shaped to provide anupwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for align ment withone side of a printed character and a downwardly extending flexible arm,spring means for yieldably maintaining said arm in contact with saidcarrier to swing the projection toward and away from the printedcharacter upon vibration of the carrier, and said arm having a notch forlatching engagement with said carrier, under the influence of saidspring means, when the arm is manually flexed. I

13. In a writing machine the combination with ribbon vibrating means, ofa character position indicator mounted for horizontal adjustmentadjacent the printing point and for swinging movement toward and awayfrom the latter, and spring means for yieldably maintaining theindicator in contact with said vibrating means and for swinging theindicator toward said printing point during operationof said vibratingmeans.

14. A position indicator, adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent theprinting point of a writing machine including a ribbon vibratingcarrier, said indicator comprising a body portionshaped to provide anupwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for alignment withone side of a printed character and a downwardly extending flexible arm,spring means for yieldably maintaining said arm in contact'with saidcarrier to swing the projection toward and away from the printedcharacter upon vibration of the carrier, said arm having a notch forlatching engagement with said carrier, under the influence of saidspring means, when the arm is manually flexed, and means forautomatically disengaging said arm from its latched engagement withsaidcarrier upon a movement of the carrier in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS855,207 Shepard May 28, 1907 885,715 Bond Apr. 28, 1908 965,231 RumrillJuly 26, 1910 1,571,946 Helmond Feb. 9, 1926 1,574,980 Lindburg Mar. 2,1926 2,224,766 Dodge Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,930,471 March 29., 1960 Edwin O,Roggenstein I It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below,

In the grant, line 1, and in the heading: to the printed specification,line 3, for "Edwin O. Rdggenstein each occurrence read Edwin O.-Roggenstein in the heading 0f the single sheet of drawings containingfigures 1 to 9, line 1 for "E. O. R'6ggenst.ein" read E. 0., RoggensteinSigned and sealed this 31st day of January 1961.

(SEAL) Atteet:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C; WATSON Commissioner ofPatents

